Attend or watch the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, February 1, 2018. View the full agenda.
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Planning Board Schedules February 1 Public Hearing for MARC Rail Communities Plan
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Planning Department and Planning Board Announce their Calendar of February 2018 Events
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Third Session of Winter Speaker Series on February 28 Will Focus on Placemaking as a Tool of Economic Development
 The Montgomery County Planning Department will hold the third and final session of its three-part Winter Speaker Series on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at its headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD). RSVPs are encouraged but not required. The series, titled The Economic Future of the Suburbs: Infill, Commerce, Placemaking, focuses on the changes that are occurring in the suburbs as they adapt to market forces: infill housing added to neighborhoods of detached homes; office building conversions into residential units; digital technology's influence on retail and commerce; and placemaking as a strategy for economic development. The third session will feature speaker Ethan Kent, Senior Vice President of the New York-based Project for Public Spaces. Kent's presentation will include the Power of 10, the elements of successful public spaces and why they attract investment, people and activity. He will explain the strategies of creating such places and their potential economic impact on the suburban and urban-style communities of Montgomery County. Read more and RSVP |
Planning Board Approves Update to Guidelines for Incentive Density in Commercial/Residential and Employment Zones
 The Montgomery County Planning Department has issued updated guidelines for meeting the requirements of Commercial/Residential (CR) and Employment zones, and providing public benefits in exchange for additional building density and height. The Planning Board approved the 76-page document at its meeting on December 14, 2017. This update does not include any changes to the previous guidelines or the matrix of points awarded for supplying public benefits. Rather, it further clarifies the benefit categories through intent statements and illustrative photographs of precedent developments throughout the region and country. |
Public Hearing for Master Plan of Highways and Transitways Will Be Held on February 15
 The Montgomery County Planning Board w ill hold a public hearing for the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways at its headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD) on Thursday, February 15, 2018. Community residents interested in testifying at the meeting or submitting written comments should consult the Planning Board agenda for details.
The community is invited to testify on the Bicycle Master Plan at the Public Hearing on February 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sign up to testify online beginning on February 5.
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Planning Department Seeks a Volunteer to Join its Art Review Panel
 The Montgomery County Planning Department is seeking to fill a vacant volunteer position on the Art Review Panel. The candidates for this position should have a professional background in land-use law, be familiar with the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance and be able to discuss regulatory coordination of public art projects and public benefits throughout the region.Learn more |
Applications Due by April 2 for Montgomery County Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Owners must file an application, including documentation of the repairs that were done, with the historic preservation staff of the Planning Department by April 2, 2018. The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission will then evaluate the applications to determine whether the scope of the work meets the eligibility requirements for the program. The work must have been completed no later than December 31, 2017.
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 It's not too late to register and be a part of a county wide health initiative! Move More Montgomery is encouraging you to walk, jog, run a mile a day for 100 days. Log 100 miles in 100 days! You can also participate in 20 minutes of continuous physical activity (bike, swim, yoga, aerobics, ski, weightlifting etc.) it all counts as one mile! Get creative and have fun while making a lifestyle change! The 100 Mile Challenge runs thru May 4, 2018. |
 Master Naturalist Spring 2018 Training
Help support the conservation of natural resources and assist in the park stewardship. Become a Certified Master Naturalist and help educate the community on the importance of protecting our environment, identify native plants and species, conduct field research, and lead educational programs. Certification classes start this winter.
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 Updated M-NCPPC Parks Rules & Regulations Are In Effect Updates to the M-NCPPC Rules & Regulations will improve access to parks and amenities and provide greater flexibility in the rules. |
Festivals and Events  Looking for a different type of fun for the entire family? Maybe, a new experience in your backyard? Montgomery Parks has all the excitement just around the corner. Check out our Festivals and Events Page for all the happenings. Don't miss a chance to see what Montgomery Parks has for you! - Black History Month Celebrations- Start planning your experience at some of Montgomery Parks local historic landmarks. Events will highlight the stories, struggles and successes of African Americans on a local, state, national and international level. Make plans to visit the Josiah Henson Park and Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, February 3-24, for some great events including an annual spoken word event, free guided tours, documentary screenings, and much more happening throughout February.
- Waterfowl Festival- Bring the whole family for a day filled with activities, crafts, demonstrations, and exhibits to celebrate the wondrous water birds that call Little Seneca Lake home during the winter. The festival will be held on Sunday, February 11, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Black Hill Visitor Center. Try your hand at carving a decoy or join a guided birding excursion to catch a glimpse of marine ducks, swans, and maybe even bald eagles!
- Green Matters Symposium- Join us at the annual symposium sponsored by Brookside Gardens that concentrates attention on the intersection of horticulture and environmental issues. Register for the Friday, February 23 event and listen to a broad spectrum of actors from home gardeners to professionals in the horticulture and landscape architecture industries to learn how we can be proactive stewards of our own piece of the pie.
- Pop Up in Montgomery Parks- Montgomery Parks is aiming to attract more people to our parks - particularly our urban parks in the densely populated parts of Montgomery County. So, we are bringing fun and free "Pop Up" programming to select parks all winter, including Movie Night, Cozy Community Day, Rock Wall and our new Pump Track! Check out our upcoming programs taking place this winter.
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Community Meetings and News
Make plans to attend upcoming community meetings. Park Staff will be presenting plans for upcoming project renovations and scheduled improvements to the parks. The community is encouraged to attend these meetings and provide input on the upcoming projects: -
- A Second Community Meeting for the renovation plans to improve Acorn Urban Park was held at the Eastern Village Cohousing Common House in Silver Spring. Park staff presented the preliminary concepts for the park and seek community input. Please share and plan to attend with your neighbor. Visit the Acorn Urban Park project page for more information.
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Accessibility Improvements Continue |
Emerald Ash Borer in Montgomery Parks  A non-native invasive beetle in Montgomery County is wreaking havoc on ash trees, many which are in stream valleys on parkland. Learn more on how the department is addressing the issue. |
Bikers and Runners should use caution around work areas as improvements are taking place on several trails in Montgomery Parks: -
NEW: The bridge connecting Garland Avenue and Glenside Drive on the Long Branch Trail will be closing and will not be accessible to the public this winter. Trail users should not enter trail area as the existing bridge will be demolished and replaced with a new bridge. Trail users should seek alternate routes with project beginning in January and continue thru early spring. -
NEW: PEPCO will start work on the Capital Crescent Trail in January to remove some trees. Work will continue through the end of the month with workers and vehicles entering the trail from River Road to get to the work area. Trail users should watch for flaggers and directional signs around work area located south of Mass Ave., between Brookeway Drive and Duvall Drive. -
NEW: Montgomery Parks is starting a project to construct the Capital Crescent Plaza this winter. The eight-month project will build a plaza on the west side of the Capital Crescent Trail, just north of River Road. When complete, it will contain a stone sitting wall with a decorative pergola, and better access between the plaza and the Capital Crescent Trail as well as improving a connection to River Road. -
Montgomery Parks Staff is seeking public f  eedback on the preliminary recommendations on a new Natural Surface Trail Plan in the Upper Paint Branch Limited Area Trail Plan. Your input will help us make this the best plan possible for the Paint Branch area. - Trail work is underway on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail that may interrupt trail use. Parks will be installing a 20' span steel truss bridge on Beach Drive between Old Spring Road and Stoneybrook Drive. The project will have a temporary mulch path detour at the project site to safely allow trail users continued use of the trail.
- Work to repair boardwalk and bridge on the Matthew Henson Trail is in progress. The work area is near Grenoble Drive and Turkey Branch Parkway. The trail section is currently inaccessible. Please use caution when seeking alternate routes. Vehicles should share the roadway at all times.
- Trail improvements on the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail near Parklawn Local Park continue. The project includes a new connector to the trail, bridge installation, stream sediment control and storm water management when complete.
- Share the Trail- A section of the Cabin John Tr
 ail now allows bikes. Montgomery Parks has recently authorized a section of the trail from the trailhead across Goya Road to the parking area on Seven Locks Road, by the 495 overpass of the Cabin John Trail to be accessible to hikers/walkers and bikers. All trail users should share the trail and always yield to the appropriate trail users. -
WSSC work to improve stormwater management and sediment control near the Northwest Branch Trail SVU#3 area is in progress. The project requires heavy excavating equipment to be delivered so workers will need to use the trail to gain access. Park patrons should use caution around designated work areas.
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  The 2017 Winter Program GUIDE is here! |
 Our popular summer camps are back and open for registration beginning on January 16. Find out more about our Outdoor Adventure Camp, Golf & So Much More, Week in the Park, Wee Little Naturalists, Into the Woods, and so much more on our Camps and Classes website. You may also find the perfect camp for your kids at Montgomery Parks' Summer Camp Expos! Montgomery Parks offers more than 100 camps geared towards a wide variety of interests to summer campers of all ages. Many camps even offer before/after care, and camps run throughout the entire summer! Summer Camp Expo will be held March 10-11; |
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